Human-Animal Interactions最新文献

{"title":"Foster parents’ experiences with animal companions while fostering children and youth","authors":"Jeanette Wiens, T. Pearson, C. Whalen","doi":"10.1079/hai.2024.0021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2024.0021","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 This qualitative exploratory inquiry examined foster parents’ perspectives of the impact companion animals had on the children/youth in their care. Six foster parents were interviewed and six themes, including 12 subthemes, were uncovered: (1) provision of companionship (unconditional love); (2) strengthening of the foster home environment (environmental connection, increased feelings of safety); (3) teaching empathy (responsibility, compassion); (4) emotional regulation (grief, emotional support, calming presence); (5) benefits to foster parents (friendship, affection, emotional support, additional support); and (6) challenges. These findings have important implications for social work practice. Specific recommendations based on the findings are presented.","PeriodicalId":146997,"journal":{"name":"Human-Animal Interactions","volume":" 1003","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141823423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integration of equine assisted services and social-emotional learning: A preliminary evaluation of a life skills training program for at-risk youth","authors":"Ashleigh Zaker, Lee Dudley, Mary Slouka, L. Stallones","doi":"10.1079/hai.2024.0019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2024.0019","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 This study was a preliminary evaluation of a life skills training program conducted by the Equine Partnership Program (EPP) integrating Equine Assisted Services (EAS) with social emotional learning (SEL) competencies. SEL programs aim to foster character development, curb maladaptive behaviors, and enhance social skills in at-risk youth by promoting positive relationships and emotional regulation. Many youth still require more targeted or alternative approaches to effectively nurture these skills. EAS has the potential to enhance SEL through its experiential learning approach and use of horses as a bridge, which is believed to be effective because of the horse’s innate ability to mirror and respond to human emotion. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of EAS on the social–emotional development of at-risk youth as measured by the Depression, Anxiety, Pain, and Stress (DAPS) visual analog tool. It was hypothesized that participants would demonstrate measurable improvements in emotional regulation post intervention. Data were collected before and after the EAS experience from 33 participants. Participants were asked to rate their levels of DAPS ranging from a high of 10 to a low of 1. Using t-test comparisons, statistically significant decreases in scores were found in depression (M = −0.67, p = 0.02), and anxiety (M = −1.18, p < 0.001). Emotional pain and stress also showed decreases, though not statistically significant. This intervention shows promise to serve as an effective modality in addressing resilience and pro-social skills necessary for improved outcomes in behavioral and emotional development, thereby improving future academic, career, and overall life success, including improved social relationships.","PeriodicalId":146997,"journal":{"name":"Human-Animal Interactions","volume":"123 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141361617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bird-assisted treatment in vulnerable people: A literature review","authors":"Nathalie Béguin, Marion Burtey, Baptiste Lignier, Lucia Romo, Corinne Mazé","doi":"10.1079/hai.2024.0018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2024.0018","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) practices have diversified following one of the earliest uses of animals in therapy, as described by Levinson (\u0000 1962\u0000 ). Since the 1960s, evidence of the effectiveness of AAT can be found in the scientific literature across various populations. Different species of animals have been used for AAT, while literature reviews specific to dogs or horses can be found, there is currently no literature review that specifically focuses on bird-assisted treatments.\u0000 \u0000 This study aims to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the existing literature on bird-assisted treatments in diverse populations. We conducted a comprehensive search for the keywords “animal assisted therapy,” “animal assisted intervention,” “zootherapy,” “thérapie assistée par l’animal,” “intervention assistée par l’animal,” “zoothérapie,” “bird,” and “oiseau” in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and PsycInfo databases, covering the period from 1975 to October 2023. A total of six articles were eligible for inclusion in our literature review, four on older individuals and two conducted within various psychiatric departments. These studies identified two distinct forms of interventions: individual and shared room cages. Irrespective of the intervention type, the primary findings demonstrated not only positive effects on depression levels and social well-being among older individuals but also favorable outcomes for psychopathological symptoms and social life among individuals with psychiatric disorders. The use of birds can be a strategy to implement AAT in institutional settings where managing larger animals or those requiring more complex care would be challenging. These results lead us to recommend bird-mediated interventions to promote well-being and reduce psychological distress among populations requiring this type of assistance.","PeriodicalId":146997,"journal":{"name":"Human-Animal Interactions","volume":" 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141371419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cow cuddling: Cognitive considerations in bovine-assisted therapy","authors":"Katherine Compitus, Sonya M. Bierbower","doi":"10.1079/hai.2024.0016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2024.0016","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is an integrative model frequently used in conjunction with other modalities such as psychodynamic psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The most common AAT model is when a companion animal, such as a dog or cat, is integrated into a therapeutic treatment plan. This model has been studied with a variety of populations and conditions, from treating substance abuse to autism, often with positive results. Organizations that certify therapy animals will sometimes certify several species of animals to work as a therapeutic partner, such as llamas, miniature horses, and rabbits. However, to date there has been little research addressing the therapeutic benefits of animal-assisted interventions with farm animals. Cows have special behavioral traits that allow them to bond with people in a way that is unique to their size and temperament. Using the Human-Animal Interaction Scale (HAIS) as a measurement tool, we examined the behavioral and cognitive traits of cattle who work as therapy animals. Special attention will be paid to the welfare and enrichment benefits of cattle involved in bovine-assisted therapy.","PeriodicalId":146997,"journal":{"name":"Human-Animal Interactions","volume":"69 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141111979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The experiences and needs of dog-‘owners’ affected by dog-theft","authors":"Akaanksha Venaktramanan, Lindsey Roberts","doi":"10.1079/hai.2024.0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2024.0004","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Objectives: Pet ‘ownership’ is empirically evidenced to improve mental and physical health, with research suggesting an anthropomorphic bond between ‘owners’ and dogs that equal familial relationships, including children. However, bereavement of dogs, and especially dog-theft, garner scarce interest, leaving a huge population to suffer disenfranchised grief unsupported. This study aims to validate the overlap of emotional value in familial and ‘owner’-dog relationships, and grief between dog-theft victims and those with missing loved ones. The study explores the needs of guardians suffering ambiguous loss, how they cope with it, and the role of social media in this process, to grow existing literature on the topic and guide psychological support resources. Design: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted, and secondary data was collected from participants’ Facebook and Instagram posts. Methods: Four primary caregivers for their dog who had experienced dog-theft were recruited through social media. Hour-long interviews were conducted over Teams and social media posts were collated post informed consent. Audio recordings were transcribed, and primary and secondary data were separately analysed through a critical-realist onto-epistemological approach, using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Five superordinate themes from primary data, and two from secondary were extracted that evidenced an anthropomorphic relationship and associated intensity of grief among victims of dog-theft. Correlations were found between grief and coping with missing loved ones and dogs, and additionally feelings of disenfranchisement. Social media is reported as safe and popular for expressing and processing complex emotions. Conclusions: Dog-theft is traumatic for guardians and causes suffering without knowledgeable support. Psychological research should aim to inform best-practice resources providing suitable help managing grief, social disenfranchisement, and other psychological or physiological consequences of this trauma.","PeriodicalId":146997,"journal":{"name":"Human-Animal Interactions","volume":"5 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140654729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Describing adverse events in an animal-assisted intervention organization: Recommendations for prevention and management","authors":"Zenithson Ng, Laurence Svensson, Marcy Souza, Julia Albright","doi":"10.1079/hai.2024.0011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2024.0011","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Little is known about adverse events surrounding animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) since they are reluctantly reported and uncommonly discussed in the literature. Voluntarily reported adverse events occurring within an AAI program in the south-east United States over a 5-year period (2015–2019) were retrospectively reviewed. Thirteen adverse events were reported with four events resulting in injury to a human while engaged in AAI. Nine of the 13 animals involved in adverse events were reported in their first year of service. Outcomes of adverse events were based on severity of the event and likelihood of recurrence. All animal-handler teams involved in adverse events that occurred outside of the AAI setting (3/13) were retired and of the remaining 10 adverse events that occurred while engaged in AAI, three animal-handler teams returned to work, three returned to modified work, and four were retired. These findings indicate that adverse events do occur in AAI, although they are typically not severe in nature. When they do occur, retirement of the animal-handler team is not compulsory. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations are offered for potentially preventing, managing, and determining outcomes of adverse events.","PeriodicalId":146997,"journal":{"name":"Human-Animal Interactions","volume":"34 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140744392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of living with assistance dog placements on quality of life in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder or a physical disability: A longitudinal service evaluation","authors":"Emily Shoesmith, Selina Gibsone, Ed Bracher, Iris Smolkovič, Kelly Jennings, Laura Viles, Kate Easton, Elena Ratschen","doi":"10.1079/hai.2024.0014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2024.0014","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Assistance dogs are highly trained animals to support individuals with disabilities and medical conditions. Evidence suggests the support provided by an assistance dog can extend beyond physical assistance to therapeutic and communicative domains. However, there is limited research exploring the lived experience of assistance dog placements in the United Kingdom (UK) over an extended period of time. This longitudinal service evaluation was designed to evaluate the placement of assistance dogs, trained by the charity Dogs for Good, with adults and children with autism or a physical disability in the UK. Goals and expectations of being matched with an assistance dog prior to placement, and perceptions of how these dogs have impacted the quality of life of adults and children with autism and/or a physical disability and their families were assessed. Service users who had applied for an assistance dog via the Dogs for Good charity (n = 307) were contacted and invited to complete questionnaires at five different time points (pre-dog placement, and 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-months post dog-placement). Repeated-measures ANOVAs were conducted to determine if there were significant changes to quality of life over time. Mean quality of life scores improved significantly for all service users. Responses to free-text questions were thematically analysed, and three main themes were identified from the free-text responses: goals and expectations for assistance dog pre-placement (e.g., enhancing independence, physical functioning and wellbeing), the positive impact of the assistance dog post-placement (e.g., promoting independence, development of the human-animal bond, improving wider family dynamics, and reducing stigma), and satisfaction with the service. The findings complement and extend previous insights into the impact of assistance dogs on people with autism or a physical disability. They also highlight some challenges associated with the placement of assistance dogs and indicate the need to consider the development of further targeted support strategies.","PeriodicalId":146997,"journal":{"name":"Human-Animal Interactions","volume":"36 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140746379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How do I love thee? The five love attitudes people hold toward their pets","authors":"Michelle F. Guthrie, Philip H. Marshall","doi":"10.1079/hai.2024.0010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2024.0010","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 Relationship processes in the human-pet relationship parallel those in the human romantic relationship. In this study, we sought to determine whether the six human romantic love styles – Eros (ideal), Storge (friendship), Ludus (game-playing), Pragma (practical), Mania (obsessive, dependent) and Agape (selfless), represented the human-pet relationship. We wrote 44 pet-human love style items, derived from the Love Attitudes Scale (Hendrick and Hendrick,\u0000 1986\u0000 ). Participants (\u0000 N\u0000 = 254) completed these 44 pet love style items, along with measures of romantic love styles, general pet attitudes, and pet and romantic relationship satisfaction. We reduced the 44 items to the following five factors: Eros/Storge, Ludus, Pragma, Mania, and Agape. The pet love attitudes were modestly correlated with human romantic love attitudes suggesting people endorse different love attitudes in different relationships. Multiple regression results showed that Eros/Storge and Agape were positively correlated with pet relationship satisfaction, while Mania was negatively correlated. Eros/Storge was the strongest predictor of relationship satisfaction (\u0000 β\u0000 = 0.68). This is the first study to show that love attitudes apply to human-pet relationships and that certain love attitudes predict a happy relationship with one’s pet.\u0000","PeriodicalId":146997,"journal":{"name":"Human-Animal Interactions","volume":"29 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140744609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Supporting animals and veterans through enrichment: An exploratory study on a brief canine socializing intervention","authors":"Emily Webberson, Katy Schroeder, J. Binfet, Anastasia C. Stellato","doi":"10.1079/hai.2024.0013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2024.0013","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 Veterans pursuing post-secondary education may experience reintegration challenges and academic-related stress. To support student well-being, colleges and universities have begun to offer animal-assisted interventions (AAI); however, the influence of AAI programs on student veteran populations remains underexplored. Furthermore, the welfare impact of AAI programs on incorporating animals has begun to be assessed. As shelter dogs can benefit from human interaction, a mixed-methods design was used to assess if dogs and student veterans could benefit from participating in a brief 30-min unstructured interaction. We aimed to identify whether: the interaction influenced veteran reported mood state, the dog and the interaction activities completed influenced veteran experience, and the interaction influenced shelter dog behavior. Thirty veterans (\u0000 M\u0000 age\u0000 = 34,\u0000 SD\u0000 = 9.2; 24 males, 4 females) enrolled in a southern United States mid-size public university participated along with screened shelter dogs (\u0000 N\u0000 = 30,\u0000 M\u0000 age\u0000 = 2,\u0000 SD\u0000 = 0.9; 17 males, 13 females). Veterans were instructed to engage in the activities of their choosing (i.e., petting, playing, talking, providing treats, brushing) with a shelter dog. To assess changes in veteran mood, a pictorial self-report scale (assessing arousal (activated, deactivated), and valence (pleasant, unpleasant)) was completed pre- and post-interaction. Dog behavior was measured in shelter before the interaction and during the beginning, middle, and end of the interaction. Results reveal veterans reported pleasant post-interaction mood states, an overall positive experience and activity enjoyment. Qualitative results indicated that veterans perceived the dog behavior to be the most memorable aspect of participation, positively influencing their overall interaction experience. Dogs entered the interaction with more behavioral displays of fear (e.g., reduced posture), general activity (e.g., jumping), and soliciting contact behaviors (e.g., soliciting play), with all behavioral activity reducing halfway into the interaction, potentially suggesting increased relaxation over the course of the interaction. Observed decreases in dog fear behavior and veteran reported activity enjoyment suggests benefits for shelter dogs and student veterans.\u0000","PeriodicalId":146997,"journal":{"name":"Human-Animal Interactions","volume":"27 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140744765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An exploratory randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of different duration of canine-assisted interventions in higher education students","authors":"Karen Manville, Mark Coulson, Gemma Reynolds","doi":"10.1079/hai.2023.0038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2023.0038","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The aim of this study was to explore whether different durations of canine-assisted intervention (CAI) influenced the beneficial effects of CAI on anxiety, stress, depression, and the well-being of higher education (HE) students. Eighty-eight participants took part in an exploratory randomised control trial (RCT) and were assigned to the 2, 5, and 10-min CAI groups who interacted with a canine, or a control group who watched an unrelated slideshow. Pre- and post-intervention anxiety, stress, depression, and well-being levels were measured. Additionally, the type of interaction between humans and canines was recorded as well as participants’ views of the canines’ neoteny (juvenile features) to explore whether interaction activity and canine features have an impact on the beneficial positive effects of CAI. The results showed no differences in the duration of CAI in reducing anxiety, stress, and depression, meaning a 2-min CAI session was as effective as a 10-min session. The results also found individual intervention activities between humans and canines did not predict a reduction in anxiety, stress, depression, or an increase in general well-being. Additionally, a negative correlation was found between the cuteness of the canine and anxiety, and between the cuddliness of the canine and stress, although these results should be interpreted with caution due to high canine trait scores. Overall, this study used a CAI and control group to explore the differences between a single 2, 5, and 10-min CAI sessions in HE students and demonstrated a 2-min CAI session was as effective as a longer 10-min CAI session in supporting the mental health of HE students, by reducing anxiety, stress, and depression levels in the treatment group.","PeriodicalId":146997,"journal":{"name":"Human-Animal Interactions","volume":"93 S3","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135539670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}